Influential shipowners Evangelos Marinakis and John Fredriksen have separately pencilled in a total of up to 10 VLCC newbuildings worth almost $1.3bn at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) but with different fuelling choices, According to Trade Winds News.
Evangelos Marinakis, through its subsidiary Capital Maritime & Trading, has signed a letter of intent with DSIC for the construction of 4+2 300,000 dwt liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel VLCCs. The first four units are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2027, at a cost of approximately US$140 million (RMB 1 billion) per vessel. If all the optional orders come into effect, the total value of the orders will amount to US$840 million ( about RMB 6 billion).
John Fredriksen, through its subsidiary Seatankers Management, has also signed an order with DSIC for 2+2 300,000 dwt conventional fuel VLCCs. The new vessels will be equipped with desulphurization devices, and the first two new vessels are expected to be delivered in 2026, with a cost of about US$116 million (approximately RMB 830 million) per vessel. If all the optional orders come into effect, the total value of the orders will amount to US$464 million ( about RMB 3.3 billion).
In September 2023, DSIC also received an order for one 306,000 dtw methanol dual-fuel powered VLCC from China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES). This is the world’s first methanol dual-fuel powered VLCC, which is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. This is another new breakthrough made by DSIC in greening and intelligentizing the shipbuilding industry.
Clarkson data show that DSIC currently holds orders for a total of 90 ships, the delivery schedule has been placed until 2028.
